Calling all BF LIBRARIANS (others welcome, too)

I'm still 15 months from getting my math degree, but I am very seriously considering getting my masters in library and information studies and becoming a librarian (of what particular type, I do not know).

But I don't know where I want to go for my masters. I've lived in CA all my life, but the only schools in CA with ALA-certified LIS programs are UCLA and San Jose State, but I don't want to live in SJ or LA.

Anyone have any comments about these schools or where they are located?

Got my MLS from NC Central University a few years ago on the Saturday drive-in/summer school program. Central is a historically black university in Durham, NC...but since I didn't live on campus, I can't tell you much about college life there. I concentrated in school librarianship and the program was challenging but completely doable. I'm not currently employed as a librarian, but used to be...and getting the degree was a satisfying scholarly endeavor that could eventually become a career option again.

UNC-Chapel Hill would probably be considered the flagship program in North Carolina. East Carolina University (in Greenville) used to offer a MLS program with lots of online offerings; I wonder why it's not on the list?

Somehow I'm not shocked that a Berkely resident wants to become a librarian. I think someone told me there used to be a Barns and Noble in Berkely that went out of business because of their piss poor book selection.

I received my MLS from the University at Buffalo this past winter. It's the one with that big, fat "Conditional" status next to it I am not exactly sure why they have been put on conditional status; I loved my classes/professors and got a lot out of that particular program. I have heard wonderful things about the University of Oklahoma and Rutgers University. Don't move to NY unless you like snow

I went the academic/special libraries route (and currently work for a college in NYC). With your math degree, you would be a valuable asset in pretty much every damn library sector. School libraries (and students!) will love you for obvious reasons; public libraries will worship you for those pesky math reference questions that I absolutely abhor, and academic libraries will probably offer you huge incentives and pay for you to get a second master's degree in math and become a subject specialist.

Whichever route you go, I cannot stress enough the importance of taking all of the Web 2.0esque classes you can. Learn HTML, use it, love it, stroke it, call it George. Make a webpage or twelve, start a blog. Hiring committees want to see this and want to make you their new webmaster, because it's cheaper than hiring an outside source to revamp the crappy page they've been using since 1999.

I have a **** ton of information on tailoring your resume/cover letter and interviewing for library jobs. PM me anytime if you want me to get you copies, or if you have any more questions.

Use EXTREME caution around Eboo. Explody Pup PM'd me a while back, saying he was on his way to NY to meet with Eboo about entering into librarian studies. Seen Explody Pup around much lately? Need I say more?

It was nice knowing you, I will miss you.

Jeff

Are you a registered member? Why not? Click here to register. It's free and only takes 27 seconds! Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.

Originally Posted by colorider

Phobias are for irrational fears. Fear of junk ripping badgers is perfectly rational. Those things are nasty.

I received my MLS from the University at Buffalo this past winter. It's the one with that big, fat "Conditional" status next to it I am not exactly sure why they have been put on conditional status; I loved my classes/professors and got a lot out of that particular program. I have heard wonderful things about the University of Oklahoma and Rutgers University. Don't move to NY unless you like snow

Ahhhh, yes - spent quite a bit of time partying with UoB and Niagara students (I was down the street at Daemen)

Use EXTREME caution around Eboo. Explody Pup PM'd me a while back, saying he was on his way to NY to meet with Eboo about entering into librarian studies. Seen Explody Pup around much lately? Need I say more?

It was nice knowing you, I will miss you.

Jeff

Jeff,

I swear to GOD that if you keep blowing my cover, I'm sending the monkiphants in. You think I'm bluffing? Try me.

Tude, why does it not surprise me that you went to a school pronounced Damien or Demon?

Even worse ... 4 years earlier it was called Rosary Hill - an all girl Catholic College. In fact there were still several nuns there teaching.

My two good friends there and I were usually being reprimanded for something. They really didn't like it when we did an underwear raid on the guys apartments ... was there for one of the really bad winter storms that shut Boofalo down. Only tracks in the snow were a beaten path down to the liquor store.

Whichever route you go, I cannot stress enough the importance of taking all of the Web 2.0esque classes you can. Learn HTML, use it, love it, stroke it, call it George. Make a webpage or twelve, start a blog. Hiring committees want to see this and want to make you their new webmaster, because it's cheaper than hiring an outside source to revamp the crappy page they've been using since 1999.

I have a **** ton of information on tailoring your resume/cover letter and interviewing for library jobs. PM me anytime if you want me to get you copies, or if you have any more questions.

I think learning HTML, etc is a great idea...I learned (am still learning) LaTeX this year and really enjoyed it, so I'll definitely give HTML a shot (I guess people on Facebook and MySpace use it a lot to customize their pages, so I'm behind the curve).

And Eboo, someday - and that day may never come - I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this thanks as gift on crazylady's birthday.

Use EXTREME caution around Eboo. Explody Pup PM'd me a while back, saying he was on his way to NY to meet with Eboo about entering into librarian studies. Seen Explody Pup around much lately? Need I say more?

UB (Suny at Buffalo) gets a mention in foo!!! Great school, excellent reputation for the library sciences program. If I remember correctly from the alumni magazine they recently relocated the department and are still working out the bugs.

Cal- MS and PhD both from Drexel. Although I started the MS with designs on being a librarian, I ended up doing information science, rather than what Columbia's program (RIP) used to call "Library Service." I am on the faculty of a major medical school doing research in medical informatics. If you want to hear more about that (or even a non-medical) perspective on LIS, feel free to PM me.

Whichever route you go, I cannot stress enough the importance of taking all of the Web 2.0esque classes you can. Learn HTML, use it, love it, stroke it, call it George. Make a webpage or twelve, start a blog. Hiring committees want to see this and want to make you their new webmaster, because it's cheaper than hiring an outside source to revamp the crappy page they've been using since 1999.